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By Doris Obinna
The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has tasked federal and state government to initiate and begin progressive steps in fixing critical infrastructural decay in health facilities.
The PSN said Lagos, known for its perceived status as the centre of excellence in Nigeria, enjoys a glaring infrastructural deficit in general at national level and must give more attention to its various infrastructure.
Sympathising with the family of Dr Diaso Vware, PSN said her death was unwarranted and a waste of specialised skill to the nation.
In a statement jointly signed by the chairman, Oyekunle Babayemi, and secretary, Tosin Adeyemi, PSN stated that the state’s deficit, which is put at over $1 trillion and more specifically the $200 million in the health sector alone, needs to be tackled headlong.
The PSN said it would not indulge in a blame game of guilty parties with regards to the tragedy but rather all who use the hospital quarters are culpable because they all have oversight functions on the services rendered in the catchment areas involved.
“The PSN, Lagos is embarrassed that even in the death of a critical personnel, the NMA, Lagos in an act grounded in illogical rationale believes that accommodation should be provided for only house-officer physicians.”
They reiterated that the then permanent secretary Dr. Olufunmilayo Olatunji encouraged the physician tribe under the aegis of the NMA, Lagos to trudge in the myopic perception that privileges and benefit packages through service delivery remain the exclusive privilege of physicians.
With regard to the ongoing strike, the PSN said it was assessing the development, adding, “two wrongs never make a right and if government erred in poor management of infrastructure, it is certainly not the best to ‘retaliate’ by embarking on needless strikes which only inflicts pains on the poor and vulnerable.”
They urged the LASG and the federal government to avail themselves with the opportunity to sharpen the destiny of healthcare in the country.
“This gives ample opportunities to health professionals including pharmacists, physicians, medical laboratory scientists, physiotherapists and others to dedicate quality time to their areas of core competence.
“All health professionals who have a desire to be chief executive officer (CEO) of health facilities must be compelled to take up post-graduate programmes in administration and management of hospital and health systems.
